Polymerization of fluorine-containing ethylenically unsaturated compounds



POLYMERIZATION OF FLUORlNE-CONTAINING ETHYLENICALLY UNSATURATED COMPOUNDS 2,842,528 Patented July 8, 1958 between about 0.1 and about 2 parts by weight per 100 parts of total monomer or monomers present.

About 0.01 to about 1 part by weight per 100 parts of total monomer or monomers present of a variable valence Ralph Herbst, J w tfi ld and Billy Landmm, 5 metal salt is also used. The variable valence metal salt Belleville, N. J., assignoi-s, by mesne assignments, to 1s preferably an iron salt, such as ferrous sulfate or Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. ferrous nitrate, and it is used as an activator.

Paul, a corporation of Delaware The temperature of the reaction may be in therange of N Drawing Application Mal-ch 29, 1955 about 0 to 60 C., preferably about to 25 C. The pres- Serial No. 497,822 sure of the reaction may be between about atmospheric 7 Claims. (CL 260 87 5) pressure and 1200 p. s. i. g. As a matter of convenience,

) gowevenfthe polymers are parepaigeg ungeszautogenous 13101111;

This invention relates to a method for the preparation lhehs 0 Pressure, a Out to p. s. 1. g. e of polymeric fluorine-containing ethylenically unsaturated l g i i gz g about 1 h and 100 heme compounds pl'e era ya Cu O Our s- V The fluorine-containing ethylenically unsaturated com- The Water to mehemehretle y be from 8130111 110-3,

pounds which may be polymerized in accordance with the more Parts of Water l P of monomer or monomers method of the present invention preferably have not in Present, on a Welght haslswhen who of less than excess of about 4 carbon atoms. Exemplary of the comeheut 2 Parts of Water P P of monomer monomers. pounds contemplated are chlorotrifiuoroethylene, tetra- 15 used, the ate 0f eonvefslell 0f the monomer t0 P l/ fluoroethylene, 1-chloro-.1-fiuoroethylene, dichlorodifluoro- Shows a tendency to e ethylene, trifiuoroethylene, perfluorobutadiene, l,l-difiuo- The P of the Teeehoh mlxhlre Should be 111 the range robutadiene, 1,1,2-trifluorobutadiene, 1,1,3-trifluorobutaof ahoht 1 preferehly about When a P diene, perfluoropropene, phenyltrifluoroethylene, alphaor ohtslde of thls range 15 used, there 715 also tellhehey methylphenyldifluoroethylene, perfluorocyclobutene, and toward lower Y h rates- The PTT may he lh f vinylidene fluoride. The process of the present invention to e e the IeeCtIOH mlXtllre ore acidic by the addition applies to the .homopolymerization of these monomers g f e g l k s gydrochloric acid, sulfuric alclid,

and also the copolymerization thereof. For example, the h hltnc eel 0 a e e reaehoh hhxture e 3 process of the invention may be utilized to copolymerize 3O P may he e l by eddlhg Potasslum Y' chlorotrifluoroethylene and tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotridroxlde, sodium hydroxide, and the like. fluoroethylen'e and vinylidene fluoride, chlorotrifluoro- The lhvehhoh h he further lhustrated by reference ethylene and vinyl fluoride, chlorotrifluoroethylene and To the followmg speclfie examples:

vinyldchloigile, c lhlorotrifiluoroethyledne arfild vinylidene EXAMPLE 1 c on e, c orotri uoroet ene an er uoro ro ene and chlorotrifluoroethylene Zind trifiuoro ethylene. 1; co po lymenzatlon tubes a charged wlth polymerization reactions the comonomer is preferably a the mgredlents hsted m h table below l i reagents fluorinated olefin and also is preferably at least difluorif g Z 2321 533 s ::;3:: g fi nated. When less than 5 wei ht erc t of c m nom r is copolymerized with the prini ary mo gmer, the :opol; 4O i i ternary'butyl pqacetate potassum} hydroxlde merization is broadly included within the term homopoly- 23 gliieg sng igll lg fz 323211: usllgftzgte n11 htiiecrlrlilcgngi e/ 2i suspension type catalyst system is used in the trifluomethylene was charged m i liquid phase The process of the present invention in which a redox catalyst Tubes .were frozen after the addmon of each of the system, comprising an oxidant and a reductant, is premgTredlents' h d th ferred. The oxidant used is tertiary-butyl peracetate, fl Weret en Seale m Vacuo etemperature while the reductant is preferably a bisulfite, such at potasof hquld mtrogen and.were then m a Water bath sium bisulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, the temperature Of.wh1c1.1 was automaflcauy controlled at r sodium metabisulfite. The tertiary-butyl peracetate in the temperatilres i the table below At the end 0 b 0 of the reaction time indicated, the tubes were frozen, the Suspenslon reclpe campuses between a out vented, and opened. The polymers were collected, washed and 5 Parts by Welght per parts of or several times with hot water, and dried to constant weight monomers Present and preffirably compnses between in a vacuum oven set at a temperature of 35 C. Samples about 0.5 and 2 parts by weight per 100 parts of total f h polymer products were then pressed, and no monomer of monomers Present The reductant, Such as strength temperature determinations (N. S. T.) were Sodium metabisulfite. y eompl'ise between about made. The N. S. T. determinations were made in accordand about 5.0 parts by Weight per 100 parts of total ance with the method described in U. S. Patent No.

monomer or monomers present and preferably comprises 2,689,241.

Table 1 Mls. Mls. 1.25% Mls. Mls. Mls. Per- Tube Mls. Mls. 2.5% t-butyl 1% 0.1% 2.5% Temp, Time, Grams cent N. S. T Pressing No. OFz=OFG1 H2O NaHSOa peraeetate KOH FeSOi 0. hrs yield 0 temperature 31. 25 64.0 13.0 13.0 25 20.0 10.6 21.2 Wet 475 F.

31.25 64.0 13.0 13.0 25 20.0 13.5 27.0 Bubbled Do.

5- 31. 25 59.5 13.0 13.0 25 20.0 15.9 31.3 283 440. F. solid poly- 31.25 77.5 40.0 2.0 25 20.0 47.5 95.0 232 440 F. pearls.

It will be seen from the above results that all of the polymer products had N. S. T. values within the plastic range.

' EXAMPLE 2 A second series of polymerizations was run using the same charging procedure employed in Example 1 above. The quantities of reagents used and the results obtained are as follows:

comprising water, tertiary butyl peracetate, a water soluble inorganic reducing agent, and a water soluble salt of iron.

2. A process which comprises polymerizing trifluoro- 4O chloroethylene 1n an aqueous suspenslon medlum havlng a pH between about 1 and about 4 consisting essentially of water'in a ratio in excess of 1:1 to monomer, and

Table 2 Mls. Mls. Mls. Mls. Mls. Per- Press- Tube Mls. Mls. 2.5% t-butyl 1% 0.1% 1.25% Time, Tgmp Grams cent N S.T., ing

No. OF1=CFO1 H1O NaHSOa pirace- KOH citrtilc FeSOt hrs. 0. yield 0. egnrp It will be seen from the above results that all of the A process which comprises p y g i r polymer products had N. S. T. values within the plastic chloroethylene m an aqueous suspenslonmedlum havlng range. (N, S, T, value b t e 220 C, and b t a pH between about 1 and about 4 conslstlng essentlally 340 C. are considered to be in the plastic range.) 25 of water in a ratio in excess of 1:1 to monomer, and 1 ill b b i to those Skilled in the art that many comprlslng water, tertlary butyl peracetate, a water solumodifications may be made within the scope of the present mAorgamc reduclls agenti f h l l ginvention without departing from the spirit thereof, and Process mg to 6 mm 3 m W 10 t uonne' the invention includes all such modifications 90 contalnlng ethylenlcally unsaturated compound 1s chloro- We claim, trifluoroethylene copolymerized with vinylidene fluoride. 1 A h 1 1110 6. A process according to claim 3 in which the fluorineproiess m compnses p0 i z c containing ethylenically unsaturated compound is chlorofnfluomethy ene an aqueous Suspenslon trifiuoroethylene copolymerized with trifluoroethylene. 11 1g 3 P betwen fw and about 4 collslstmg 655611 35 7. A rocess according to claim 3 in which the fluorinetlally Of Water 111 a Tatlo 111 exces of 111 f0 monomer, and containing ethylenically unsaturated compound is chlorotrifiuoroethylene copolymerized with vinyl chloride.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,531,134 Kropa et al Nov. 21, 1950 2,631,203 Myers Oct. 7, 1952 2,689,241 Dittman et al Sept. 14, 1954 

2. A PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES POLYMERIZING TRIFLUOROCHLOROETHYLENE IN AN AQUEOUS SUSPENSION MEDIUM HAVING A PH BETWEEN ABOUT 1 AND ABOUT 4 CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF WATER IN A RATIO IN EXCESS OF 1:1 TO MONOMER, AND COMPRISING WATER, TERTIARY BUTYL PERACETATE, SODIUM BISULFITE, AND A WATER SOLUBLE SALT OF IRON. 